Humboldt County Death Records
Humboldt County issues death certificates and obituary records for all deaths that occurred within the county. The Clerk Recorder office in Eureka maintains these records from 1919 to the present day. You can request a copy of a death certificate by mail, in person, or through an online vendor. The county charges $24 per death certificate, which is the fee for a record search plus one copy. If you need records from Humboldt County, you must contact the county office directly as they only maintain records for deaths that happened in their jurisdiction. Most mail orders take three to five business days to process once received.
Humboldt County Death Records
Humboldt County Clerk Recorder Office
The Clerk Recorder office in Eureka handles all death certificate requests for Humboldt County. This office serves the entire county from one main location at 825 5th Street in downtown Eureka. They are open Monday through Friday from standard business hours. You can walk in to request a copy or send your request by mail. Phone orders are not accepted, but staff can answer questions about the process if you call ahead.
When you visit in person, bring a valid photo ID and information about the deceased. You need the full name of the person and the date of death or at least the year. Staff will help you fill out a request form. Most requests can be completed while you wait if the record is readily available. Some older records may take longer if they need to be retrieved from storage. The office accepts cash, checks, and credit cards for payment.
For mail requests, download the application form from the Humboldt County death certificates page or write a letter with all the required information. Include the full name of the deceased, date of death, your relationship to the deceased, and your contact information. Send a check or money order made payable to Humboldt County Clerk Recorder. Processing time for mail orders is about three to five business days after they receive your request, not including holidays.
The clerk recorder also provides a toll free number for those calling from outside the local area. You can reach them at (888) 486-2732 or use the local number (707) 445-7593. Email inquiries can be sent to clerkrecorder@co.humboldt.ca.us. They respond to emails within one to two business days during normal operations.
Authorized and Informational Copies
California law requires the county to issue two different types of death certificate copies. An authorized copy is a certified document that can be used for legal purposes like settling estates, claiming insurance, or notifying Social Security. To get an authorized copy, you must be an immediate family member or other authorized person under state law. This includes spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, or the legal representative of the estate.
You must prove your relationship with a notarized sworn statement when requesting an authorized copy. The statement declares under penalty of perjury that you are entitled to receive the record. Sign this statement in front of a notary public before submitting your request. If you request an authorized copy but do not provide the notarized statement, the county will issue an informational copy instead.
An informational copy shows all the same data as an authorized copy. The difference is a watermark across the document that says it cannot be used to establish identity. Anyone can request an informational copy without proving their relationship or submitting a notarized statement. These copies are useful for genealogy research or personal records but most agencies will not accept them for legal transactions. The fee is the same for both types of copies.
Fees for Death Certificates
Humboldt County charges $24 per certified copy of a death certificate. This fee covers the search of county records and one copy of the certificate if found. The county keeps this fee even if the record cannot be located. In that case, they issue a Certificate of No Public Record. If you need multiple copies, each additional copy costs $24 when ordered at the same time.
Do not send cash through the mail. Use a personal check, cashier's check, or money order made out to Humboldt County Clerk Recorder. If paying in person, the office accepts cash, checks, and most major credit cards. There may be a small convenience fee for credit card payments. Online orders through third party vendors like VitalChek include additional service and processing fees on top of the county's base fee.
Records for Recent Deaths
Death certificates for very recent deaths may not be available right away. After a death occurs, the funeral director files paperwork with the county. The attending physician or coroner must complete the medical section. This process takes time. In most cases, death certificates become available from the Clerk Recorder office about four to six weeks after the date of death. If you need a certificate sooner, contact the office to check availability.
Some records from the current year or previous year may still be with the county health department. The health department handles the initial registration. Once processed, they send copies to the Clerk Recorder for long term storage and public access. If the Clerk Recorder does not have the record yet, they can direct you to the right health department contact.
Historical Death Records in Humboldt County
The Clerk Recorder has death records from 1919 to the present. For deaths that occurred before 1919, records may not exist at the county level. California did not have a statewide vital records system before July 1, 1905. Counties kept their own records before that date, but record keeping was not always consistent. Some early Humboldt County death records may be available through the California State Archives or local historical societies.
The California State Archives in Sacramento holds microfilmed records from 28 California counties. Check with them to see if Humboldt County records are in their collection. Records more than 75 years old are open to the public without restriction. You can visit the archives in person or contact them by phone at (916) 653-6814 to inquire about specific records.
Local libraries and historical societies in Humboldt County may also have obituary collections and death notices from old newspapers. These sources can help fill gaps for deaths before 1919. The Humboldt County Historical Society and local genealogy groups maintain resources for family history research. Newspaper archives often include obituaries that provide details not found on official death certificates.
Free Online Death Indexes
Several free online databases index California death records. These are search tools, not official certificates. They help you find a record before ordering a copy. FamilySearch has two California death indexes. One covers 1905 to 1939. The other covers 1940 to 1997. Both are free to search and show basic details like name, date, age, and county.
Search the California Death Index 1905-1939 for older Humboldt County records. For later records, use the California Death Index 1940-1997. These indexes do not include images of certificates. They provide enough information to help you order the right record from the county.
Contact Information
You can reach the Humboldt County Clerk Recorder office at the following address and phone numbers:
Humboldt County Clerk Recorder
825 5th Street
Eureka, CA 95501
Phone: (707) 445-7593
Toll Free: (888) 486-2732
Email: clerkrecorder@co.humboldt.ca.us
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Nearby Counties
If the death you are researching did not occur in Humboldt County, you may need to contact a neighboring county. Each county only maintains records for deaths within its borders.